Beet-harvesting machine.



N. 856,394. I PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907.

G. F. CON NER.

BEET HARVESTING MACHINE.

Arrmornol rILnn nn. 24, 1905;'

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 856,394. PATBNTED JUNE 11, 1907.

Y G. F. CONNER.

`BBET HARVESTIN G MACHINE.

rrmonlox rxLsD un. 24. 1905.

4 sums-SHEET a.

UWA

PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907.

G. F. GONNER. BEET HARVESTING MACHINE. Arrmouxox :man nn. 24, 190s.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

No. 856,894. PATBNTED JUNE 11, 1907. G. F. CONNER.

BEET HARVESTING MACHINE.

APrLIoA'rIoN num mmm, 100s.

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VLZ'Cf/iff A 7111/e21`0-z/'kv carmen,` F. coNNER,4 or roar HURoN, MIcHrGANQ Specification of LettersV Patent.

. BEET-HARVESTING MACHINE.

- Application filed March 24, 1905. Serial No. 251,90

. To aIZZwh/o-m it may concern:

Be it'known that I, GEORGE F. CoNNEa, a

citizen of the United States of America, and

a residentiof the city of Port Huron, county of St. Clair, and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements inBeet-Harvesting Machines, o which the following is'a full," clear, and eXact specifica; tion.

This invention relates to beet harvesting machines and especially to means for cutting tops and crowns from beets while the latter are in the'ground, and for removing the sevi 1n side -elevation of the machine,

view in ered portlons to permit the pulling of the beets without clogging or recovering them.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and more particularly pointed out in the ap ended claims.

Referring tothe rawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine provided with a topping mechanism which embodies the principal features of the invention. Fig. 2 is a view arts' being removed for clearness of view, sliiowing the cutter at the lower point of its range. Fig-3 is a view in side elevation, showing the cutter at the u per point of its range. Fig'. 4 is a d)etail of a knife, cradle and conveyer chute, arts being broken away and in section. ig. 5 is a view in side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation of a differential mechanism and gau e wheel. Fig. 7 is a plan view of a carrier c ain link. Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation of the link.

As herein shown, the topping mechanism is illustrated in connection with a puller of the type and along the general lines of the machine described 1n the application for b eet harvesting machines'iiled by me on February 2nd., A. D. 1903, Serial `No. 141,453, wherein there is a main shaft 1, driven bya air of traction wheels 2 carryin a horizonta frame 3 and adjustable tilting Frame 4, near whose rear, lower end a counter-shaft 5 is j ournaled. Pulling cones 6 and their'driving mechanisms are operatively connected to this shaft 5 in a manner described in said specification and illustrated in a general `manner herein, so that the-cones 6 may be pulled through the -ground asti-ide a beet row. The pulling `mechanism does not in itself form a part of `this specification and is not claimed per se herein. The toppingumechanism is mounted on and driven from t s machine, although it may be supported and .driven by its own outer end is in turn preferred type of pul er.

means, a sprocket wheel 7 ca able of carrymg a broa sprocket chain 8 aving arallel gangs of spuds 9, is secured on a s aft 10 which is journaled in a suitable manner in a suitable, vertically disposed frame 1 1 parallel to the countershaft 5 and driven therefrom by any preferred means, chain 12. The lower end of said sprocket shaft frame 1 1 is pivoted on or in axial alinement with the countershaft 5 so as to 'Swingin a limited arc without changing the pitch length yof the chain 12. A second s rocket wheel 13 corresponding to the sproc et 7 is mounted in alinement therewith on a shaft 14 which is hung from the main frame so as to allow said s rocket wheel 18 to traverse the beet row ahea of the pulling cones 6 and-to act as a gauge wheel for a topping knife 15. Said knife 15 is positioned ahead of the pulling cones, with its cutting edge transverseto the beet row, so as to be drawn through the beet tops and crowns by the forward movement of the machine. Said knife, which, as herein shown and as preferably made, is a thin curved blade having a crowned or cambered cutting edge, 1s supported for the major portion of its length between its ends by a cradle.

16 of suitable design to afford the proper backing to the knife, while not obstructingfin any way the passing of material over or away from both ends of the knife. cradle is secured by slotted flanges and bolts, or other preferred and suitable means, to or between the inner ends of a pair of similarly disposed arms 17, which extend back from the cradle to clear the tops, and extend above and forward of the cradle to the front ofthe machine, where'they are pivoted to the lower end of a suitably designed hanger 18. The cradle and knife are thus movable in a vertical arc. A pair of bell crank levers 20 are suitably pivoted to the cradle arms somewhat in advance of the knife and the shaft 14 of thegauge sprocket 13 is secured to the inner or inturned arms 22 of said bell cranks. A pair of suitable links 23 are journaled to said shafts 10 and 14 and hold them in parallel relation,

thereby maintaining the two sprocket wheels of the Spud or conveyer chain 8 in proper relation. One of t'he downturned arms 21 of the said bell cranks is pivoted to a link 24 whose (pivotally connected to the lower end of an a Justing lever 25 which Patented June 11, 1907.

traction wheels, or b the mechanism of any the topf',

Said l' IIO .works ina suitable quadrant 26. The latter is adjustably secured by bolt and slot .connections to the hanger 18 or the mam frame lower portion as by a conveyer iiig t.

.confined in compression stops such ascheck nuts or cotter pms 30.

so that the link pivot centers may be brought nearto the ivot centers of the cradle arms 17. Thus t e rise and f all of the sprocketV gauge wheel will cause the top ing knife to rise andy fall, the extent of t eir relative movements being determined by the lengths of the various parts connecting them, and by the relative positions of their centersof motion. The adjusting lever 25 enables the operator to raise and lower the gauge wheel independently of the cutter.. In order that the gauge wheel may sna back from the cutter in case a stone or other ard substance is drawn between them by thechain, the links 24 each l com rise a bifurcated rod 27 between whose lel arms a second rod 28 is secured by an para ring 29, which is encircling spiral or coiled s The link is thus free to lengthen under stress greater thanthe normal,iwhi le the abutting parts of the rod and fork prevent its shortening under compression. The wh'ole topping ymechanisms vmay be raisedfrom the groun by a suitably disposed lifting lever 31 and lookin quadrant 32.'

Whi e the differential movement-of the gauge and knife is preferably obtained by the disposition of .parts vherein described, it may obviously be gained by any of the mechanical movements in common use for such purposes. V.`

A conveyer chute 33 is secured beneath the spud chain 8 so as to be swe t by its rear end of the chute rests on the shaft frame 11 and its lower end is secured tothe knife cradle 16 by the lipped or flanged margin of the bed which hoo s into a groove A34 in the face of the cradle, so that the latter maybe tilted at any angle in its arms and still leave a flush or unbroken surface for vthe beettops to pass over. Said chute. is crowned for a ortion of its length near the cradle, s0v asto 'and thus insure the compression of the beet The'l to s when they first enter the chute. si es of the chute are each .secured at their lower ends, to a shoe 35, which encircles the adjacent portion of -the'cradle arm and is so proportioned and molded as to present .smooth curved surfaces which tend to force the lbeet tops and leaves-to the center of, the

chute and to compress them.

A hopper 36 is secured to the upper end of.

the chute, adapted to discharge on` one side of the beet row. A gate 37, of anysuitable ,pattern which will retain the tops while foot lever 38 and link 39, or it may be .auto-j tion of the beets.

etween suitable -spuds of The ear positively against the spuds of the chain` matically opened by a trip on One of the wheels arranged to engage said lever, or an other preferred means. v f

n operation, the machine is drawn along a beet row so that the gauge wheel rides over the beet tops. `The operator places the knife lat the pro er distance from the cutter' by the' adjustmg ever, 'as determined by the condi- As the machine advances, the gauge, which is `positively driven by the spud chain and other mechanism at a rate of 'speed equal to or greater than its rolling eontact withpthe ground, andwhich is practically centered over the edge of the knife, raiSe's-andlOWers the knife vin proportion to the height of the .crowns encountered, so that the latterl are 4severed atithe proper point.

of crown removed, the differential connections between the gauge and cutter are arranged and adjusted -so that thel knife does not rise las high as the gauge wheel, thereby'V slicing more from the high tops than from the low ones.A By shifting the adjusting lever v-cquadrant up and down, this proportionate movement may be-varied as the conditions re nire.

vs the knife enters the crown of-a beet, the the convey-er chain engage and hold it, preventing it from breaking 'off before being cleanly severed, and drawing it backy vwith its leaves intothe chute between the shoes and compressing it and-sweepingulit linto the hopper 4in a compact mass. W e

- inasmuch as the beets which project farthest ,abovethe' ground need the greatest amount IOO .the :conveyer carrier may be a belt or like fieXible article provided with projections on -itsouter face, the perforated or open llink .chain shown herein is preferable, as it does not afford support for4 earth and other foreign substances, which pass through and are readily shaken off. The rigidl connection of the spuds and chain, the spuds being integral with thelinks, also insures'their ventering and holding the beet crowns firmly and as they are substantially stationary in whjle the knifeis passing through the latter,

yrelationto the beetl root, they act as fingers v which-prevent any breaking of the beet'.

VThe beet tops and crowns may be-discharged vfrom they hopper as desired, 4the'reby'qleaving the beets uncovered after they are pulled. L

'.I't is obvious that the topping mechanism of puller, or may be operated independently, by being provided wheels .and driving mechanisnn'l the invention, an 4I" do not limit myself to with ysuitable tractionv A,may be adapted to use with any desired `type g l any particular disposition vand arrangementv appended claims.l I claimas my invention:-

of parts except as set-forth incertain ef the V l a pair of cradle arms pivoted .at their corresponding ends to the main frame, a knife cradle secured to their free ends, a knife secured to the cradle, a pair of wheel levers ivoted to the cradle arms in alinement, a ink pivoted at one end to the wheel levers and at the other to the main frame, and a gauge wheel rotatively secured to the wheel levers.

2. A beet topper comprising a main frame, a pair of similarly disposed cradle arms pivoted atV one end to the main frame, a knife cradle secured between the free ends of the levers, a pair of similarly disposed bell cranks pivoted to the cradle arms, a gauge wheel rotatively secured between ther corresponding arms of the bell cranks, an adjusting lever` pivoted to the main frame, and link and pin connections between the adjusting lever and the other arms of the bell cranks.

3. In a beet topper, a vertically movable knife, a conveyer chute whose receiving end is operatively connected to the knife, a gauge -wheel for the knife, `and an endless carrier for the chute passing around the gauge wheel,

whose lower flight assumes different angular relations to the chute, said chute being longitudinally crowned near its receiving end so that it passes through the path of motion of the fli ht.

4. n a beettop er, a vertically movable knife, a conveyer w ose chute issecured near its mouth to the knife and whose carrier comf. prises an endless sprocket chain driven by a sprocket near the discharge end of the chute and passing over a sprocket above the knife, said forward sprocket and chain being o eraively connected to the knife as a gauge t ere- 5. A beet-topper comprising a main frame, a vertically movable knife, a gauge wheel for the knife differentially connected thereto, a conveyer whose delivery end is carried by the main frame and whose receiving end is carried by the knife, and whose flight comprises. an .endless carrier running over and driving vthe gauge wheel, and means for maintaining a constant tension on the flight in all positions assumed by the carrier.

6. A beet topper comprising a main frame, a vertically movable knife, therein, a gauge wheel for the knife differentially connected thereto, and a conveyer whose flight comprises an endless carrier running over and driving the gauge wheel, the delivery end of the conveyer being supported by the main frame and the receiving end by the knife',- and a drive wheel for the carrier movabl supported in iXed relation to the gauge w eel.

7. A beet topper comprising a main frame, a vertically movable knife therein, a gauge wheel differentially connected to the knife, a

- conveyer whose receiving end is operatively connected to and moves with the knife and whose flight comprises an endless carrier driving the gauge wheel and having the differ ential vertical movements ofthe gauge wheel in relation to the knife, and means articulating the carrier driving mechanism and the discharge end of the conveyer lto. the main frame and maintaining the driving mechanism and gauge wheel in fixed relation.'

8. A beet topper comprising a main frame, a vertically movable knife therein, and a conveyer articulated at its rear end to themain frame.

10. A beet topper comprising a main frame,

ya topper frame pivoted at its forward end to the main frame, a knife secured in the free, rear end of the top er frame, a conveyer whose chute is carried at its forward end by the to per frame and at its rear end by the main frame, and 'whose night com rises an endless carrier sweeping the chute W ose forward sprocket is journaled in the topper frame, and acts as a gauge for the knife.

l 1. A beet topper comprisin a main frame, a to per frame whose forwar end is pivoted to t e main frame, a knife secured in the IOO free, rear end of the topper frame, a con veyer Whose chute is articulated at the rear end to the main frame and whose forward end is carried by the free end of the to per frame, and Whose flight comprises an en less carrier sweeping the chute, whose rear wheel is journaled on the main frame and whose forward wheel is journaled in the topper frame, and acts as a gauge for the knife.

12. A beet topper comprising a main frame, a topper frame `pivoted at its'forward end to the main frame a knife secured in the free, rear end of the top er frame, a conveyer whose chuteis carried at its forward end by the topper frame and at its rear end by the main frame, and whose flight com risesan endless carrier sweeping the chute w ose forward wheel is journaled in differentialconnections with the topper frame,.and acts as a gauge for the knife.

13. A beet topper comprising a main frame, a topper frame pivoted at its forward end to the main frame, a knife secured in the rear free end of the topper frame a conveyer frame oscillatory in the main ame, a conveyer chute whosefforward end is supported by the to per frame and whose rear end is articulated to the conveyer frame, and an endless carrier sweeping the chute, whose IOS IIC

4s ingthem'inoperative relationto each other.

i '-of the topper vzo forward end carries'the free end of the to perv frame 'and actsas a gauge for the kni e,

and whose rear Wheel is journaled in the, 0011.-'

veyer frame. ,t l

14. A-beet topper comprising a main frame, a topper frame pivoted at its forward'end to the main frame, aknife fixed in the topper l frame, a conveyer frame pivoted at one end to the main frame, a vconveyer chute carriedto the forward and rear carrier wheel shafts. o

. 15. In a beet topper, a vertically movable knife and a conveyer whose endless carrier is differentially connected to and acts as a gauge lsecured by-leyer, connections to the top for the knife.

16. l.In a beet topper having a topping frame and a knife secured therein, a gauge m0' frame, and a spring-pressed, yieldi ink connectin the gau e levers and main ame, and affor ng yieldging relation between the gauge and knife. l

' 17. In abeet topper, a vertically movable knife, a gauge therefor, differentialrconnections between the gauge and knife controlling their relative .vertical movements, a conveyer chute movingl'vertically with the knife anda conveyer flig t sweeping. the chute, moving verticallywi-th the gauge, said chute being adapted to co-operate with the flight throughfout. the rangeof their relative movements.

' 18. A beetl topper comprising a vertically movable knife, a gauge therefor, and connections affording differential vertical movement in the knife and gauge, yieldingly maintain- 19'. In abeetftopper, a vertically movable I knife, :a gauge therefor, differential connections between thegauge and knife anda spring in vthe differential connectionspermitting limited movement of thev gauge independent j l' -of the movement of the knife.

' Cure 20'. A. beet topper comprising a mainframe,

ia top er frame oscillatory therein, a knife sein the topper frame, agauge for-the knife Swingin inand su porting the free end ame, a-lin pivoted at one end to 'a lever adjustablylocked with the main r frame and atthe otherend to the gauge, and a 7 springin thelink permitting' limited movel ment of the gaugein the topper frame.

21. A beet topperfcomprismg a main frame, a topper frame '.swingin therefrom, a knife secured in thefree ende Ythe topper frame., a.

pair of levers sinfalinemliltjn the: i

emesse l topper frame, agaugefor the knife mounted the main frame, and an adjustably secured levers on the topper-frame:

22. A beet to per comprising amam frame,

main frame, a gauge for the knife, differential j connections between the gauge and knife controlling their' relative vertical -movements, and an adjustably secured lever on the main frame for setting the knife. 23; Abeet topper comprising a main frame, a topper framepivoted at its forward end to the main frame, a knife secured in the rear, free end of the topping frame, a conveyer whose chute is carried at its forward end by the to per frame and .at its rear end by the endless carrier sweeping the chuteV w ose forward sprocket is Journaled in the topper frame andl acts as a gaugel for the knife, the

outwardly curved to vform lateral topp-compressing means. A 24. A beet topper comprisin a main frame, ,a vertically movable'knife t erein, a posil tively driven gauge for the knife,y coacting therewith to shear off beet crowns passing between them,` and diiferentialconnections betainin them in operative relation.` 25. beet topper com rising a main frame, a. topper frame vertical y' movable therein, a `knife rigidly secured in the topper frame, a rotatable gauge whose bearings swing in a vertical arc centered in the topper frame, a link articulated to-the bearings, controllingl mo- Vtion in their arc, and a, lever pivoted to the link, adjustably interlocked with the main frame, adapted to shift the center of rotation of thelink. A' 'v y 26. In a vbeet t per, apvertically movable l-knife, a sprocket W eelfresting on the ground iny advance ofthe knife, and carrying the knife, and a conveyer whose carrier consists of a s rocket chain passin over the sprocket -wliee 'and between the wIieel and the knife land'driving the wheel.v f

27. Abeet -topper'comprisinggg' a main frame, l a vertically movable knife therein, a gauge for l the knife, differential connections .between the .knife and gauge controlling their relative vertical movements, andadjusting means for ments of the knife and gauge.

movable knife, a gauge. therefor, connections affording differential.'l vertical vmovements in the knife and gauge, yieldingly maintain' them in operative relation to each other, an adjusting means for v'aryingthe ratio. of the respective movements of the' gauge 'and knife. 29. Abeettoppertcornprising amam frame,

lever on the main frame for the gauge a knife vertica y movable yin relation to the main ame, and'whose Hight com rises an Ivarying the ratio'of lthe respective. move-- on the levers, a link pivoted at one end to the gauge levers, and at the other articulated to.

sides of the chute at its receiving end being tween the knife and the gauge yieldinglymain- IOO 28. A beet topper.cornprisiriga vertically tively driven a topper frame movable therein, a knife in the topper frame, a gauge for the knife, conneetions between the frames, the knife and gauge affording dierential vertical movements` in the knife and gauge, yleldingly maintaining them in operative relation, and adjusting means for varyimJr the ratio of the differential movements of the knife and auge.

80. A beet topper comprising a main ame, a vertically movable knife therein, a posiauge for the knife, coacting therewith to s ear off` beet crowns passing my hand in the' presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 7th day of January, A. D. 1905.

GEORGE F. CONNER.

' Witnesses:

D. E. PURDY, BURNETTE F. STEPHENsoN. 

